Unless you have been living in a news vacuum (which I have been known to do on occasion), you know that an earthquake was felt in approximately 1/3 of the country. Being an East Coast girl, the idea of earthquakes is terrifying. I'm don't appreciate the ground abruptly shaking without warning!
Thankfully I was still in Texas when the earthquake struck. We heard the news and immediately became concerned about our home. We live in Virginia, approximately an hour from the epicenter, and the news reports were sketchy and the extent of damage was unclear. My mind immediately began to conjure worst case scenarios.
I spent the next two hours frantically making phone calls and posting messages on Facebook and Twitter to ascertain any possible damage. Unfortunately the phones (and apparently the internet) were congested with others who had a similar predicament. Getting through was nearly impossible and was an incredibly frustrating experience.
Finally I reached our neighbor, Mr. Bill, who proudly proclaimed that he checked our property and that the tree house was fine. He then proceeded to explain that he climbed into the tree house and that it didn't even have a loose board. After bragging that he had constructed a sturdy structure, he finally added the information I wanted to hear. "Oh, and your house is fine too."
Surveying the house when we arrived home, I noticed only pictures askew on the walls and a few fallen books. Yesterday morning I discovered one of my spice house containers had been jostled off the rack and had broken. I was heartsick to find my grandmother's woven porcelain bowl had also fallen victim to the quake. After cleaning up the broken spice house and bowl shards, I decided to clean the kitchen. I turned on our faucet to discover brown water.
A quick google search revealed that brown well water following an earth quake is normal. We have been instructed to run the water in short durations (15 minutes at a time) for the next few days. The sediment that has been shaken into the bottom of the wall from the quake should clear within the week. Hopefully the water becomes clear soon. If I tried to bathe Robby right now he would come out of the tub looking like an orange Oompaloompa- sporting a cowboy hat and boots of course!
Despite two broken treasures and dealing with brown water from our well, we consider ourselves to be incredibly lucky. I can't help but think about the earth quake victims in Haiti, New Zealand and Japan. When I think about the devastation to both life and property sustained by survivors in those countries, I am grateful that our damage was superficial.
About Me
- Peggy
- I am a below knee amputee. More importantly, I am also Mommy to two boys, a very active 10 year old (Robby) and an mischievous toddler (Timmy). I have learned that being a parent with a disability can create some unusual and sometimes humorous situations. This blogger is available for hire! Let's talk and learn how a blog can expand your business.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Educate
Several times a week I am contacted by a new (or soon to be) amputee. Each contact reminds me of how I felt before my amputation. I will never forget the fear of both the surgery and of living my life with limb loss.
Although the stories vary, many of the concerns and questions are universal. I am often asked, "What questions am I not thinking of? What else should I be asking you?" My answer is almost always the same.
After the amputation surgery, there is little to do but wait for the limb to heal. During this time it is not uncommon for depression to set in. I know that this was one of the most difficult periods of my recovery. I was suddenly without my foot, but not able to actively work towards my recovery. Of course, healing is the first part of that recovery, but pointing out that technicality merely is sometimes perceived as negating the very real frustrations that are being felt.
I have started to encourage new amputees to use their recovery time to become educated about their prosthetic choices. Since we are the ones who are wearing and relying upon the devices, it stands to reason that we should have input into the components used for their construction!
Prosthetic components can be confusing, especially for the novice who is not familiar with the jargon. Prosthetic components are categorized by both weight limitations and activity level, referred to as the K-Level. In order to begin window shopping for a prosthetic, it is important to figure out your K-Level.
Here is a brief overview of K-Levels:
Those with a K-O classification are not ambulatory. They do not have the ability or the potential to walk.
K-1 amputees may benefit from a prosthetic to assist in transferring (such as from a wheelchair to a fixed chair). Walking at various speeds and maneuvering around environmental obstacles is not deemed feasible.
K-2 amputees are considered community walkers. They can walk for limited periods of time but cannot typically vary their walking speed.
K-3 amputees have the ability to vary their speed and can traverse through a variety of environmental obstacles. They are community walkers and considered to have a moderate ability to exercise.
k-4 amputees rely upon their prosthetic to complete high impact activities such as running and jumping.
Once the appropriate K-level has been determined, hop onto the Internet and visit the websites of prosthetic manufacturers. Here are links to the major component manufacturers:
Ossur
Otto Bock
Freedom Innovations
Endolite
College Park
As you shop, these questions might help to guide you through the options. What you want to get out of your prosthetic? (Do you want to walk to the bathroom or around the block? This answer makes a difference when choosing a component.) What aspects are important to you? (Do you want ankle movement at the cost of increased weight? Do you want something with a high energy return but not as reactive when walking?) How important is a cosmetic cover?
Once you are familiar with the attributes of a few different prosthetics, call your prosthetist and talk about them. You don't have to be "socket ready" in order to start the prosthetic process. Learning about the options available is empowering and may help fill the time void during recovery.
Although the stories vary, many of the concerns and questions are universal. I am often asked, "What questions am I not thinking of? What else should I be asking you?" My answer is almost always the same.
After the amputation surgery, there is little to do but wait for the limb to heal. During this time it is not uncommon for depression to set in. I know that this was one of the most difficult periods of my recovery. I was suddenly without my foot, but not able to actively work towards my recovery. Of course, healing is the first part of that recovery, but pointing out that technicality merely is sometimes perceived as negating the very real frustrations that are being felt.
I have started to encourage new amputees to use their recovery time to become educated about their prosthetic choices. Since we are the ones who are wearing and relying upon the devices, it stands to reason that we should have input into the components used for their construction!
Prosthetic components can be confusing, especially for the novice who is not familiar with the jargon. Prosthetic components are categorized by both weight limitations and activity level, referred to as the K-Level. In order to begin window shopping for a prosthetic, it is important to figure out your K-Level.
Here is a brief overview of K-Levels:
Those with a K-O classification are not ambulatory. They do not have the ability or the potential to walk.
K-1 amputees may benefit from a prosthetic to assist in transferring (such as from a wheelchair to a fixed chair). Walking at various speeds and maneuvering around environmental obstacles is not deemed feasible.
K-2 amputees are considered community walkers. They can walk for limited periods of time but cannot typically vary their walking speed.
K-3 amputees have the ability to vary their speed and can traverse through a variety of environmental obstacles. They are community walkers and considered to have a moderate ability to exercise.
k-4 amputees rely upon their prosthetic to complete high impact activities such as running and jumping.
Once the appropriate K-level has been determined, hop onto the Internet and visit the websites of prosthetic manufacturers. Here are links to the major component manufacturers:
Ossur
Otto Bock
Freedom Innovations
Endolite
College Park
As you shop, these questions might help to guide you through the options. What you want to get out of your prosthetic? (Do you want to walk to the bathroom or around the block? This answer makes a difference when choosing a component.) What aspects are important to you? (Do you want ankle movement at the cost of increased weight? Do you want something with a high energy return but not as reactive when walking?) How important is a cosmetic cover?
Once you are familiar with the attributes of a few different prosthetics, call your prosthetist and talk about them. You don't have to be "socket ready" in order to start the prosthetic process. Learning about the options available is empowering and may help fill the time void during recovery.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Texas HOT
Dear Texan and all heat-dwelling friends,
During my vacation in Austin, we have been experiencing high temperatures in excess of 110 degrees. I never realized it could get so hot outside of my oven! I understand that this weather is not unusual for this area, and for this reason, you all have my utmost respect.
Socket and stump issues have been trying to intrude on our family fun and I have no doubt that the heat is the culprit. My leg has literally swelled out of my prosthetic, causing sores to develop where I have ballooned out of my socket. When it is 110 degrees in the shade, my attempts to contain the swelling have been futile.
Perhaps more uncomfortable than the sores is the the fluid retention that has kept me from reaching the bottom of my socket. I am able only to get 3/4 of the way into my prosthetic, causing me to be about an inch taller on my left side. My limp is more pronounced, and my hip and knees hurt because of the substantial height difference.
Trying to seek relief from the heat and hoping to shrink the swelling in my limb, we packed up and headed to the pool. The cool water felt heavenly, and I could feel my leg shrinking by the moment. Unfortunately, the swelling returned within hours of leaving the pool, but at least I felt stopgap relief!
We were having such a good time in the pool that we didn't realize that five hours had elapsed. I should have been as vigilant with my own sunscreen as I was about Robby's. My face burned around my sunglasses, leaving me to look like a bright red raccoon for the rest of our vacation. Thankfully it didn't hurt, and I don't mind looking strange!
Between dealing with a muffin top socket, a marked height difference and a raccoon face, I am sure that I am quite a sight as I tour the area. Thankfully I have been accompanied by a little boy sporting an Ohio State shirt, shorts, leather boots and a cowboy hat that is two sizes too big. He has certainly garnered the attention away from my limp and red raccoon look.
I have a new respect for my amputee friends who deal with these heat issues on a regular basis. For me, despite having a wonderful visit, I'll be glad to be going home where the temperatures are now a comfortable 82 degrees. Hot temperatures are not beneficial for this amputee mommy!
During my vacation in Austin, we have been experiencing high temperatures in excess of 110 degrees. I never realized it could get so hot outside of my oven! I understand that this weather is not unusual for this area, and for this reason, you all have my utmost respect.
Socket and stump issues have been trying to intrude on our family fun and I have no doubt that the heat is the culprit. My leg has literally swelled out of my prosthetic, causing sores to develop where I have ballooned out of my socket. When it is 110 degrees in the shade, my attempts to contain the swelling have been futile.
Perhaps more uncomfortable than the sores is the the fluid retention that has kept me from reaching the bottom of my socket. I am able only to get 3/4 of the way into my prosthetic, causing me to be about an inch taller on my left side. My limp is more pronounced, and my hip and knees hurt because of the substantial height difference.
Trying to seek relief from the heat and hoping to shrink the swelling in my limb, we packed up and headed to the pool. The cool water felt heavenly, and I could feel my leg shrinking by the moment. Unfortunately, the swelling returned within hours of leaving the pool, but at least I felt stopgap relief!
We were having such a good time in the pool that we didn't realize that five hours had elapsed. I should have been as vigilant with my own sunscreen as I was about Robby's. My face burned around my sunglasses, leaving me to look like a bright red raccoon for the rest of our vacation. Thankfully it didn't hurt, and I don't mind looking strange!
Between dealing with a muffin top socket, a marked height difference and a raccoon face, I am sure that I am quite a sight as I tour the area. Thankfully I have been accompanied by a little boy sporting an Ohio State shirt, shorts, leather boots and a cowboy hat that is two sizes too big. He has certainly garnered the attention away from my limp and red raccoon look.
I have a new respect for my amputee friends who deal with these heat issues on a regular basis. For me, despite having a wonderful visit, I'll be glad to be going home where the temperatures are now a comfortable 82 degrees. Hot temperatures are not beneficial for this amputee mommy!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sea World!!
Friday morning we packed up and headed to Sea World. Nearly every night since we confirmed our trip to Texas three months ago, Robby has curled up into my lap before bed time and said, "Momom, let's talk about Sea World." I would fire up my laptop and we would spend about twenty minutes looking at their website and Sea World YouTube videos. He was raring to go and began to giggle when we told him that we were finally going to Sea World that morning.
I have to admit that my little boy loves animals. He took a map at the entrance and practically ran to the dolphin exhibit. After working with his Daddy to pet the dolphins, we headed to the sting ray and shark exhibit. Lo and behold, we got to the tank in time for a show!
Robby was so cute sitting on the floor in front of the giant aquarium, attentively absorbing everything the speaker was saying. He never squirmed and didn't get up to walk around like many of the other kids. In that moment he looked so grown up, I found myself feeling both pride and sadness simultaneously.
After visiting the sharks and rays, we headed over to the Sea Lion exhibit. My Dad surprised Robby and bought a tray of sea lion food so that he could feed them. I found it somewhat ironic when my Dad handed Robby a tray of dead fish. After all, he was the person responsible for buying Robby his fish aquarium. Because just about every resident that has swum in its waters has met an untimely death, I figured that it was easier to just give Robby his fish already belly side up and save us some trouble!
Robby was delighted to feed the sea lions. After throwing his first fish into the waiting mouth, he looked at me and squealed, "I've never fed a sea lion before in my whole entire five year life." He then proceeded to toss another fish to the crowd of sea lions below.
Yet again I found myself feeling a sense of maternal pride. Many of the other visitors were teasing the sea lions with the fish, dangling the food above them without releasing it. The animals were yelping and begging to be fed, yet the tourists continued to taunt them. Robby remarked that he felt the people were being mean, and that it "wasn't nice" not to give the fish to the sea lions. He never made them beg and simply enjoyed watching them eat. I think that this small observation speaks to his sensitivity and compassion!
Robby, it turns out, wasn't the only person impressed by the sea lion exhibit. My Dad considers himself fortunate enough to have witnessed what apparently was an awesome sight. He saw a sea lion poop in the water while swimming. Now Robby and my Dad have deep conversations about, you guessed it, poop!
My favorite part of the day was, without doubt, the Shamu killer whale show. While I was impressed with the tricks performed by the giant animals, I enjoyed watching Robby's reaction much more than watching the whales. His unbridled enthusiasm and pure delight came shining through his eyes and expressions as he watched the show.
When the show started, the whale swam underwater and jumped, performing a back flip in the center of the pool. Robby spontaneously screamed, "Oh my gosh, this is the most amazing thing ever. I'm so happy!" I will never forget the pure joy in his voice and the astonishment in his eyes. That single moment was worth the price of admission.
That night Robby giggled himself to sleep. He woke up two times in the middle of the night, once to remind me that he fed a sea lion and the second time to talk about the Shamu show. I worried that the combination of the heat and Robby's ultra high expectations might cause Sea World to fall short. I am thrilled that was not the case. After months of anticipation, and despite the 110 degree temperatures, we had a wonderful Sea World adventure!
I have to admit that my little boy loves animals. He took a map at the entrance and practically ran to the dolphin exhibit. After working with his Daddy to pet the dolphins, we headed to the sting ray and shark exhibit. Lo and behold, we got to the tank in time for a show!
Robby was so cute sitting on the floor in front of the giant aquarium, attentively absorbing everything the speaker was saying. He never squirmed and didn't get up to walk around like many of the other kids. In that moment he looked so grown up, I found myself feeling both pride and sadness simultaneously.
After visiting the sharks and rays, we headed over to the Sea Lion exhibit. My Dad surprised Robby and bought a tray of sea lion food so that he could feed them. I found it somewhat ironic when my Dad handed Robby a tray of dead fish. After all, he was the person responsible for buying Robby his fish aquarium. Because just about every resident that has swum in its waters has met an untimely death, I figured that it was easier to just give Robby his fish already belly side up and save us some trouble!
Robby was delighted to feed the sea lions. After throwing his first fish into the waiting mouth, he looked at me and squealed, "I've never fed a sea lion before in my whole entire five year life." He then proceeded to toss another fish to the crowd of sea lions below.
Yet again I found myself feeling a sense of maternal pride. Many of the other visitors were teasing the sea lions with the fish, dangling the food above them without releasing it. The animals were yelping and begging to be fed, yet the tourists continued to taunt them. Robby remarked that he felt the people were being mean, and that it "wasn't nice" not to give the fish to the sea lions. He never made them beg and simply enjoyed watching them eat. I think that this small observation speaks to his sensitivity and compassion!
Robby, it turns out, wasn't the only person impressed by the sea lion exhibit. My Dad considers himself fortunate enough to have witnessed what apparently was an awesome sight. He saw a sea lion poop in the water while swimming. Now Robby and my Dad have deep conversations about, you guessed it, poop!
My favorite part of the day was, without doubt, the Shamu killer whale show. While I was impressed with the tricks performed by the giant animals, I enjoyed watching Robby's reaction much more than watching the whales. His unbridled enthusiasm and pure delight came shining through his eyes and expressions as he watched the show.
When the show started, the whale swam underwater and jumped, performing a back flip in the center of the pool. Robby spontaneously screamed, "Oh my gosh, this is the most amazing thing ever. I'm so happy!" I will never forget the pure joy in his voice and the astonishment in his eyes. That single moment was worth the price of admission.
That night Robby giggled himself to sleep. He woke up two times in the middle of the night, once to remind me that he fed a sea lion and the second time to talk about the Shamu show. I worried that the combination of the heat and Robby's ultra high expectations might cause Sea World to fall short. I am thrilled that was not the case. After months of anticipation, and despite the 110 degree temperatures, we had a wonderful Sea World adventure!
Friday, August 19, 2011
We Made it to Texas
Greetings from Austin, Texas! Or, as Robby has been saying since our plane landed, "Yee Haw! I'm in Texas." We haven't seen a real cowboy yet, but that certainly hasn't stopped him from looking.
Our trip was relatively uneventful. Considering that I had to interact with TSA at the Baltimore Airport, I consider "uneventful" to be a success! This time I encountered only moderate incompetence and the obvious under-training of the screeners.
This was the first time I was not offered a private screening. I didn't think much of it, as I always opt for a public patdown. (I believe that my fellow travelers should witness their security airport fees in action!) As my patdown commenced, I questioned the screener (in a polite and conversational tone, of course) about failing to offer me a private screening. I was informed that the private screening was only a "courtesy" offered to travelers when staff was available.
Hmm.. that's not what it says on the TSA website. I told her that she was mistaken, and then referred to the regulation providing for a private screening. After all, I had the information handy thanks to my self-designed TSA Disability Notification card!
I chose not to pursue the lapse in regulation with a supervisor because it was early and I hadn't consumed enough caffeine to ready me for battle. After two agents fumbled their way through the CastScope machine, I was cleared to fly. I felt a sigh of relief that no tears were shed and that I wasn't completely molested in the process of my screening!
Robby was a charming little cherub during our flight. He didn't whine, cry or complain about being bored. Much of the flight was spent visiting his newest discovery, the airplane bathroom. Apparently it is a magical little room because he took four trips during our flight!
When Robby wasn't in the bathroom himself, he spent a lot of time looking out his window- especially after another passenger used the restroom. He was utterly convinced that he was seeing toilet paper and "pee pee" flying through the air. I should have explained that the toilet didn't flush into the air, but it kept him both occupied and quiet so I decided not to burst his bubble.
Robby and his Candy Papaw spent the afternoon playing with cars and shopping for snacks. Apparently Robby is planning on consuming a lot of food during the next few days because he compiled a stock pile of cupcakes, ice cream and pop-tarts at the grocery store when he went shopping with my dad. In any case, it has been fun watching the two of them telling jokes and chatting!
Today we are going to Sea World, a trip that has Robby over the moon with excitement. He loves all things aquatic, especially dolphins, so it is going to be a fantastic day. Perhaps the only thing that could make it better would be temperatures below 110 degrees-- oh, and seeing a real cowboy!
Our trip was relatively uneventful. Considering that I had to interact with TSA at the Baltimore Airport, I consider "uneventful" to be a success! This time I encountered only moderate incompetence and the obvious under-training of the screeners.
This was the first time I was not offered a private screening. I didn't think much of it, as I always opt for a public patdown. (I believe that my fellow travelers should witness their security airport fees in action!) As my patdown commenced, I questioned the screener (in a polite and conversational tone, of course) about failing to offer me a private screening. I was informed that the private screening was only a "courtesy" offered to travelers when staff was available.
Hmm.. that's not what it says on the TSA website. I told her that she was mistaken, and then referred to the regulation providing for a private screening. After all, I had the information handy thanks to my self-designed TSA Disability Notification card!
I chose not to pursue the lapse in regulation with a supervisor because it was early and I hadn't consumed enough caffeine to ready me for battle. After two agents fumbled their way through the CastScope machine, I was cleared to fly. I felt a sigh of relief that no tears were shed and that I wasn't completely molested in the process of my screening!
Robby was a charming little cherub during our flight. He didn't whine, cry or complain about being bored. Much of the flight was spent visiting his newest discovery, the airplane bathroom. Apparently it is a magical little room because he took four trips during our flight!
When Robby wasn't in the bathroom himself, he spent a lot of time looking out his window- especially after another passenger used the restroom. He was utterly convinced that he was seeing toilet paper and "pee pee" flying through the air. I should have explained that the toilet didn't flush into the air, but it kept him both occupied and quiet so I decided not to burst his bubble.
Robby and his Candy Papaw spent the afternoon playing with cars and shopping for snacks. Apparently Robby is planning on consuming a lot of food during the next few days because he compiled a stock pile of cupcakes, ice cream and pop-tarts at the grocery store when he went shopping with my dad. In any case, it has been fun watching the two of them telling jokes and chatting!
Today we are going to Sea World, a trip that has Robby over the moon with excitement. He loves all things aquatic, especially dolphins, so it is going to be a fantastic day. Perhaps the only thing that could make it better would be temperatures below 110 degrees-- oh, and seeing a real cowboy!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Saddle Up--We're Flying To Austin
Yesterday, Scott and I worked all morning to get everything packed for our trip to Texas. We are only going to be away for five days, yet we somehow needed three large suitcases. Of course, I needed to bring both my swim leg and my running leg. Prosthetic legs take up a lot of room!
With our suitcases packed and our house sitters instructed to abstain from hosting a party (a request I hope will be remembered), we headed to Baltimore for the night. We decided to start our vacation a day early by staying in a hotel close to the airport. We were able to spend the afternoon swimming, will wake up minutes from the airport, and will avoid the rush hour traffic.
Early this morning we take off for Austin, Texas. My Dad has lived in Texas for about ten years, but this is our first visit. It seemed illogical to visit him when he was staying in our basement during the work week for the first eight years of his Texas residency. Since he became a full-time Texan, we've missed him. I've been looking forward to this reunion for months!
All summer Robby has been anticipating what he refers to as his "Texas Cowboy Adventure." He envisions large cacti plants, sandy terrain and streets lined with cowboys, gunslingers and horses. (I suspect that his Texan stereotypes stem from the cowboy episode of The Backyardigans that we have on the DVR.) I've tried to convince him that he may not see cowboys riding horses through the streets of Austin, but he simply tells me that I am wrong.
Even if Austin fails to meet the wild-west expectations of my little guy, I know that he won't be disappointed. His Candy Papaw (my Dad) has planned a lot of surprises including a trip to Sea World, a lot of time swimming, and possibly a visit to a Cowboy Dude Ranch. When we aren't sight-seeing, I'm sure Robby will be busy entertaining his Candy Papaw and Nana Phara (my Dad's wife).
Of course, before our Austin Adventure begins, we have to get there which means that I have to deal with TSA and their screening du jour this morning. Wish me luck-- Hopefully if I pass my screening (and hold my tongue) my next blog will be from Texas!
With our suitcases packed and our house sitters instructed to abstain from hosting a party (a request I hope will be remembered), we headed to Baltimore for the night. We decided to start our vacation a day early by staying in a hotel close to the airport. We were able to spend the afternoon swimming, will wake up minutes from the airport, and will avoid the rush hour traffic.
Early this morning we take off for Austin, Texas. My Dad has lived in Texas for about ten years, but this is our first visit. It seemed illogical to visit him when he was staying in our basement during the work week for the first eight years of his Texas residency. Since he became a full-time Texan, we've missed him. I've been looking forward to this reunion for months!
All summer Robby has been anticipating what he refers to as his "Texas Cowboy Adventure." He envisions large cacti plants, sandy terrain and streets lined with cowboys, gunslingers and horses. (I suspect that his Texan stereotypes stem from the cowboy episode of The Backyardigans that we have on the DVR.) I've tried to convince him that he may not see cowboys riding horses through the streets of Austin, but he simply tells me that I am wrong.
Even if Austin fails to meet the wild-west expectations of my little guy, I know that he won't be disappointed. His Candy Papaw (my Dad) has planned a lot of surprises including a trip to Sea World, a lot of time swimming, and possibly a visit to a Cowboy Dude Ranch. When we aren't sight-seeing, I'm sure Robby will be busy entertaining his Candy Papaw and Nana Phara (my Dad's wife).
Of course, before our Austin Adventure begins, we have to get there which means that I have to deal with TSA and their screening du jour this morning. Wish me luck-- Hopefully if I pass my screening (and hold my tongue) my next blog will be from Texas!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Robby Rotten Resurrected
It is safe to say that Robby had the time of his life at the Fair on Monday night. We didn't leave until an hour after his bedtime because he was having so much fun. Apparently the colorful lights were nothing short of magical!
When we got home, Robby helped me fix a new water home for Carny, the goldfish prize that he won. Obviously I was not anticipating bringing a fish into the family because the aquarium was stowed in the back of the garage, under a pile of Christmas ornaments. It wasn't until 11:00 that Robby and Carny fish were tucked into their respective beds for the night.
Hoping that the Fair was as exhausting for him as it was for me, I was optimistic about Robby sleeping in on Tuesday. My dreams were dashed when he came into our bedroom at 6:00 AM, chatting about his fishy and the rides from the night before. He snuggled into bed, requested a cartoon and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I didn't realize that those early minutes of my day would be the calmest. I wish I had taken more time to savor the peace and tranquility, perhaps by sipping rather than gulping my coffee. Sometime during the three episodes of Scooby-Doo that were playing on the TV, Robby Rotten emerged.
It wasn't difficult to predict the visit of Robby Rotten. After all, my little guy had a huge night on Monday, full of wonder and excitement. He went to bed well past his normal time, and woke up uncomfortably early. Fatigue is always an invitation for Robby Rotten to wreak havoc.
Robby was grumpy, defiant and just plain miserable all day. Nothing seemed to fill his never ending pit of "I want" demands. He refused to eat yet complained constantly about being hungry. He didn't want to get dressed and became inconsolable when I told him that he could not go into his tree house naked. He threw himself down during temper tantrums so frequently that Scott and I actually considered putting rugs on the hardwood floor to protect his little knees.
Yesterday was not a good day for the grumpies. We are going to Texas later this week, and we had a full To Do list to tackle. In spite of his mood, and against my better judgment, we were going to have to venture into public with Robby Rotten.
Our day began with a haircut. I took him to Cartoon Cuts because the presence of a television playing an animated classic seemed to numb the trauma in the past. Despite requesting SpongeBob, Robby never watched the cartoon. Instead he closed his eyes and began screaming, "Help me, Momom," before the scissors were even picked up. I was charged extra because he was dubbed a "wiggly kid," a description I thought was generous considering his behavior!
After receiving what turned out to be another crooked haircut, we went to Target to buy new big boy underwear. Robby wanted cowboy underwear because he was going to Texas, so I was delighted to find Toy Story 3 underwear featuring Woody the Cowboy. Unfortunately, the underwear also featured Buzz Lightyear, which did for some reason caused tears to flow. Thinking fast, I pointed out that Buzz is on the bum. For some reason, that halted the potential underwear breakdown.
Last night Robby tried to hide my leg in the dishwasher because he didn't like what I making for dinner. He cried because I wouldn't let him take a bath with his clothes on. I was going to point out to him that a few hours earlier he was throwing a fit because he didn't want to wear those same clothes, but I didn't think he would appreciate the irony.
We had a fantastic day on Monday. Yesterday I spent most of the day saying"No," ignoring crocodile tears, refusing demands and walking around a five year old pounding the floor in the time out corner. By the end of the day I was silently cursing the Fair for making him so tired and grumpy.
Robby wasn't talking to me when I tucked him into bed at night. He was mad at me because I apparently sat on his invisible fish. I'm hoping that Robby Rotten left overnight. If not, I'm fairly confident that I'm going to run away from home!
When we got home, Robby helped me fix a new water home for Carny, the goldfish prize that he won. Obviously I was not anticipating bringing a fish into the family because the aquarium was stowed in the back of the garage, under a pile of Christmas ornaments. It wasn't until 11:00 that Robby and Carny fish were tucked into their respective beds for the night.
Hoping that the Fair was as exhausting for him as it was for me, I was optimistic about Robby sleeping in on Tuesday. My dreams were dashed when he came into our bedroom at 6:00 AM, chatting about his fishy and the rides from the night before. He snuggled into bed, requested a cartoon and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I didn't realize that those early minutes of my day would be the calmest. I wish I had taken more time to savor the peace and tranquility, perhaps by sipping rather than gulping my coffee. Sometime during the three episodes of Scooby-Doo that were playing on the TV, Robby Rotten emerged.
It wasn't difficult to predict the visit of Robby Rotten. After all, my little guy had a huge night on Monday, full of wonder and excitement. He went to bed well past his normal time, and woke up uncomfortably early. Fatigue is always an invitation for Robby Rotten to wreak havoc.
Robby was grumpy, defiant and just plain miserable all day. Nothing seemed to fill his never ending pit of "I want" demands. He refused to eat yet complained constantly about being hungry. He didn't want to get dressed and became inconsolable when I told him that he could not go into his tree house naked. He threw himself down during temper tantrums so frequently that Scott and I actually considered putting rugs on the hardwood floor to protect his little knees.
Yesterday was not a good day for the grumpies. We are going to Texas later this week, and we had a full To Do list to tackle. In spite of his mood, and against my better judgment, we were going to have to venture into public with Robby Rotten.
Our day began with a haircut. I took him to Cartoon Cuts because the presence of a television playing an animated classic seemed to numb the trauma in the past. Despite requesting SpongeBob, Robby never watched the cartoon. Instead he closed his eyes and began screaming, "Help me, Momom," before the scissors were even picked up. I was charged extra because he was dubbed a "wiggly kid," a description I thought was generous considering his behavior!
After receiving what turned out to be another crooked haircut, we went to Target to buy new big boy underwear. Robby wanted cowboy underwear because he was going to Texas, so I was delighted to find Toy Story 3 underwear featuring Woody the Cowboy. Unfortunately, the underwear also featured Buzz Lightyear, which did for some reason caused tears to flow. Thinking fast, I pointed out that Buzz is on the bum. For some reason, that halted the potential underwear breakdown.
Last night Robby tried to hide my leg in the dishwasher because he didn't like what I making for dinner. He cried because I wouldn't let him take a bath with his clothes on. I was going to point out to him that a few hours earlier he was throwing a fit because he didn't want to wear those same clothes, but I didn't think he would appreciate the irony.
We had a fantastic day on Monday. Yesterday I spent most of the day saying"No," ignoring crocodile tears, refusing demands and walking around a five year old pounding the floor in the time out corner. By the end of the day I was silently cursing the Fair for making him so tired and grumpy.
Robby wasn't talking to me when I tucked him into bed at night. He was mad at me because I apparently sat on his invisible fish. I'm hoping that Robby Rotten left overnight. If not, I'm fairly confident that I'm going to run away from home!
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